This guide spoils the total number of characters. There are spoiler tags on character names, weapon names and Lumina names so that you don't get any unwanted information at a glance.

I deliberately chose not to mention progression-related Skills. I also deliberately chose not to go over team-wide set-ups for ludicrous combos. There are plenty of other guides for those builds.

These are builds that you can start working toward as soon as you get each character, taking skills in any order that you like. They are strong builds that are effective even against the optional super bosses and can easily fit into game-breaking party configurations. I do provide at the end of this guide a simple list of tips for massively increasing damage output in the late-game.

Remember, these are just a handful of builds in a sea of possibilities. Feel free to tweak them to suit your preference, or even ditch them altogether to use your own. The goal is to have fun, after all!

• Use your combat items
  
• Dodge to practice parrying: a perfect dodge has the same timing as a parry
  
• Focus on just one Attribute for your first ten levels. Long term, it is better to specialise in two or three Attributes than to spread your points around
  
• Have a character equip all Luminas related to Free-Aim; the starting character is a great choice for this role
  
• Status Effects are very powerful and can trigger some extremely good effects from your Luminas (Critical Burn is an especially good one you get very early)
  
• Feel free to use your Recoats, they are not a rare item

Character's name: Gustave


SKILLS

• Recovery: for curing status effects, not healing
  
• Lumiere Assault: cheap multi-hit to build up Overcharge
  
• Strike Storm: expensive, big damage multi-hit to build up Overcharge
  
• Overcharge: big single target damage when fully charged, amazing break damage
  
• Shatter: good multi-target damage and can break multiple enemies at the same time, can be useful for building up Overcharge
  
• Marking Shot: low damage support move, fantastic for setting up other characters who can take advantage of Mark

ATTRIBUTES
Luck and Agility are ideal, but you should go for whatever matches your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
Crit and Speed. Health and Defense are fine if you want to be tankier.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Sakaram and Gaulteram are perfect fits, but you can use whatever strikes your fancy, they are all fully compatible.

LUMINAS
Prioritise critical hit %, then AP generation and damage %.

• Game changers: First Strike, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For generating AP: Energising Start 1, 2, Energising Turn and Rewarding Mark
  
• For improving damage: anything that increases critical hit % and damage %
  
• Because you often apply Mark, take: Double Mark, Rewarding Mark, Powerful Mark, Rush on Powerful, Greater Powerful and Greater Rush
  
• You've got a cool gun, so you may like all Free-Aim related Luminas, especially Marking Shots

HOW IT PLAYS
For single target, either use Marking Shot/Free-Aim to set up party members or use Lumiere Assault/Strike Storm to deal damage and build Overcharge. Use Overcharge when at 8+ charges. For multi-target, cast Shatter, then Overcharge on a priority target if you have 8+ charges.

Character's name: Lune


SKILLS

• Healing Light: for curing statuses, not healing; gives AP and buffs with certain Luminas
  
• Revitalization: fantastic team-wide healing; gives AP and buffs with certain Luminas
  
• Immolation (replace with Wildfire, then Hell once you can afford the AP cost): some damage and applies Burn, to set up Thermal Transfer and to improve party member's crit chance and damage. Upgraded Hell is also fantastic aoe damage
  
• Thermal Transfer (can be swapped out for whatever you like once AP is no longer a concern): great for building AP back up and can let you play twice in a row. ALWAYS use it on a Burning target!
  
• Typhoon: the core of the build once you get the right Luminas. Gives a small heal, generates AP, and applies 3 buffs every turn for the whole team, BUT ONLY if they do not have anything that prevents healing. It also deals decent damage
  
• CHOOSE ONE
  
  • Thunderfall (replace with Lightning Dance): great damage, but only if you have high crit rate
    
  • Rockslide: very solid damage, can break

ATTRIBUTES
Vitality and Defense. Once you can reliably cast upgraded Lightning Dance/Rockslide, move those points over to whatever matches your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
You want enough Speed to go at least as often as your teammates. Having much higher Speed than them is fine too. Then either go all-in on Crit or have a mix of Health and Defense.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Anything that generates AP or Stains is going to be most helpful.

• Level 4+ Potierim: excellent early game, when you most rely on your healing skills (it works with Typhoon too!). The level 10 effect is also pretty useful
  
• Level 10+ Benisim: your second-best choice once you have a lot of AP, because it provides a guaranteed earth stain every turn. This is important in the late game to guarantee an upgraded Hell or Lightning Dance after using Typhoon
  
• Level 20+ Chapelim: a direct upgrade over Benisim and your overall best choice for the late game
  
• Level 20+ Angerim: enables a funny pure support build. Take Storm Caller and Terraquake, then cycle like so: Typhoon -> Storm Caller -> Terraquake -> Typhoon

LUMINAS
Prioritise AP generation and on-heal effects. Damage % is good, but secondary. DO NOT take anything that prevents healing.

• Avoid these: Confident, Confident Fighter and Inverted Affinity
  
• Game changers: First Strike, Beneficial Contamination, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For generating AP: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4, Energising Turn, Beneficial Contamination and Energising Burn
  
• For improving damage: anything that increases critical hit % and damage %
  
• The on-heal full suite: Energising Heal, Energising Powerful/Energising Rush/Energising Shell*, Accelerating Heal, Powerful Heal, Protecting Heal, Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Greater Shell, Longer Powerful, Longer Rush and Longer Shell

* You only need one of these

HOW IT PLAYS
Apply Burn and keep your team healed. Use Thermal Transfer on a burning target to build back AP. Feel free to use upgraded Thunderfall/Lightning Dance/Rockfall to deal damage. Once you have Luminas that buff Typhoon, always have it active. Eventually, you will be primarily alternating casting Typhoon with upgraded Hell for a devastating combo.

Character's name: Lune


SKILLS

• Immolation (replace with Wildfire as soon as you can): your default opener, applies burn
  
• Electrify: to set up an upgraded Crustal Crush
  
  • Can be replaced with Thunderfall if you've got a lot of AP generation (through other characters' skills, for example)
• Thermal Transfer: to get back AP and chain into upgraded Rockslide, ALWAYS use on a burning target
  
  • Can be replaced with Typhoon if you're willing to invest the Lumina (needs at least Energising Heal and Energising Rush OR Energising Shell to be worth it)
• Rockslide: for breaking, deals good single target damage if you can't use Crustal Crush
  
• Crustal Crush: the core of the build, hits hard and does extreme break damage when upgraded
  
• Crippling Tsunami: good alternate opener, very strong hit if upgraded, excellent status effect (delays enemy turns)

ATTRIBUTES
Might and whatever scales with your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
Speed and Crit. You want 75% crit chance (higher is fine).

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
You're looking for weapons that let you chain into your upgraded skills more easily with reduced costs or stain generation.

• Level 4+ Lighterim: early game option for an easier time chaining into Rockslide/Crippling Tsunami
  
• Level 10+ Saperim: extremely useful, guarantees an upgraded Crustal Crush/Rockfall/Crippling Tsunami after Wildfire
  
• Level 10+ Chapelim: for an additional 60% break damage bonus on your upgraded Crustal Crush
  
• Level 20+ Angerim: good late game option, replace Wildfire with Thunderfall, Lightning Dance, Storm Caller, Typhoon or Terraquake, your choice

LUMINAS
Prioritise damage % and break damage %. You need both to maximise your break damage. You want a minimum of 5 starting AP.

• Game changers: First Strike, Beneficial Contamination, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For increasing AP generation: Energising Start 1, 2, Energising Turn, Beneficial Contamination, and Energising Burn
  
• For improving break damage: Breaker, Breaking Burn, Breaking Slow, Break Specialist, Critical Break
  
• For improving damage: anything that increases critical hit % and damage %
  
• For improving openers: Longer Burn and Greater Slow
  
• If you do not use Typhoon and have a party member who often applies Mark, take: Rewarding Mark, Powerful Mark, Rush on Powerful, Greater Powerful and Greater Rush
  
• If you use Typhoon, take: Energising Heal, Energising Powerful/Energising Rush/Energising Shell*, Accelerating Heal, Powerful Heal, Protecting Heal, Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Greater Shell, Longer Powerful, Longer Rush and Longer Shell and DO NOT take Confident, Confident Fighter, or Inverted Affinity

*You only need one of these

HOW IT PLAYS
Open with either Wildfire or Crippling Tsunami. Always have Burn active, to benefit from related Luminas and from Thermal Transfer's AP generation. Electrify followed by Crustal Crush is your bread and butter single target. For multi-target, upgraded Crippling Tsunami hits the hardest. To upgrade it, always cast Electrify before Wildfire, otherwise Electrify will consume a stain and prevent the upgrade. Use Thermal Transfer on a burning target to get back AP and sometimes get an extra turn on top.

COMBOS
Wildfire -> Thermal Transfer -> Rockslide (-> Thermal Transfer if burn is active)
(Wildfire ->) Electrify -> Crustal Crush (-> Thermal Transfer if burn is active)
Electrify -> Wildfire -> Crippling Tsunami
Crippling Tsunami -> Wildfire

Character's name: Lune


SKILLS

• Elemental Trick: 100% crit chance means you are guaranteed one of each Stain; sometimes an enemy is immune to an element, which prevents the one Stain from forming
  
• Mayhem: Use only with 4 Stains in order to break, or if you really want to remove your Stains; sometimes an enemy is immune to an element, which prevents the break
  
  • You can replace this with Rockslide, which breaks more reliably. Some weapons require clearing Stains to trigger special effects, in which case you should probably keep Mayhem
• Elemental Genesis: big multi-target damage
  
  • You can replace this with Hell if you can generate enough AP. Consuming Stains with Hell lets it deal similar damage and it is mono-elemental, which makes it easier to avoid resistances/immunities. It also applies Burn on the first hit, which lets you trigger Luminas with related effects on the second.
• Lightning Dance: your go-to for single target damage, 100% crit means 12 nasty hits
  
• Crippling Tsunami: multi-target damage for when you can't use Elemental Genesis, hits very hard if upgraded and applies Slow, which is always useful
  
  • Can also be replaced with Rockslide, which deals excellent single target damage and is useful for breaking if you do not have 4 Stains
• Immolation (upgrade to Wildfire, then Hell once you can afford the AP cost): applies Burn. Wildfire does okay multi-target damage, it mostly exists to apply Burn. Hell hits like a sack of trucks if upgraded. Applying Burn is necessary early on in order to reach 100% crit rate
  
  • Can also be replaced with Rockslide, same reasons, but only if you have another means of applying Burn on the enemy

ATTRIBUTES
Defense and Luck early on to maximize crit rate, transfer those points to Might and whatever matches your chosen weapon once you have Pictos that give a lot of crit chance.

PICTO STATS
Crit, Crit, Crit. Once you reach 75% crit chance, you want to look at Speed. At 100% crit chance, you can prioritise Speed. You only need 50% crit chance if you can reliably use Critical Moment.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Those that do not automatically generate Stains are easiest to manage. Scaling with Luck or Defense is nice, but not necessary since you will rely primarily on Pictos to improve your crit rate.

• Level 4+ Trebuchim: an excellent Stain and AP generator to help you guarantee Mayhem and upgraded follow-ups
  
• Level 10+ Scaverim: has great damage potential, but will lock you out of Elemental Genesis and Mayhem's break component (use Hell for damage, Rockslide for break, and Mayhem to drain Stains)
  
• Level 10+ Braselim: provides a solid, consistent damage increase

• Level 20+ Cholarim: the first effect is pointless, but the other two are brutally strong

LUMINAS
Prioritise critical hit %, then AP generation, then damage.

• Game changers: Critical Burn, First Strike, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For AP generation: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4, Energising Turn, Beneficial Contamination and Energising Burn
  
• For increasing damage: anything that increases critical hit % and damage %
  
• If you have a party member who often applies Mark, take: Rewarding Mark, Powerful Mark, Rush on Powerful, Greater Powerful and Greater Rush

HOW IT PLAYS
Open with Immolation/Wildfire to apply Burn (not necessary if you do not benefit from it, or if the enemy already has Burn), then cast Elemental Trick to generate Stains. Use Elemental Genesis for multi-target damage or Lightning Dance for single target. Mayhem or Rockslide to break the enemy. Tsunami/Wildfire/Hell for multi-target if you cannot cast Elemental Genesis.

Wildfire -> Tsunami is an alternate way to enable Elemental Genesis if your crit rate is still too low to make reliable use of Elemental Trick.

NOTE FOR LOW HEALTH BUILD
Hell will put you at 1 HP if you mess up the input. It's the only way to lower you own health as this character without using Luminas or another character's skill. I don't think it's worth doing, but it's a cute trick.

Character's name: Maelle


SKILLS

• Egide: protects your team from single-target attacks, but does not protect from aoe damage. Puts you into Defensive Stance (reduces damage received by 50%)
  
• Mezzo Forte: primarily to stay in Defensive or Virtuose Stance, but also excellent for building up AP after using an expensive skill
  
• Revenge: great damage if you got attacked a bunch, but will knock you out of Defensive Stance if you already were in it (you cannot stay in the same stance multiple turns in a row unless the skill you use specifically says otherwise)
  
  • Payback is a perfectly fine alternative, fills the same role
• Swift Stride: gets you into Virtuose Stance (200% more damage), for when you feel like the damage you're receiving is not too bad and you want to spank some butt
  
• Fleuret Fury: your go-to damage for Virtuose Stance. Alternate with Mezzo Forte to stay in Virtuose Stance, or use Egide/Revenge/Sword Ballet to get back into Defensive Stance
  
• Sword Ballet: use only in Virtuose Stance as a damage spike; puts you back in Defensive Stance

ATTRIBUTES
Defense and either Vitality or Agility, then whatever scales with your chosen weapon. Might scales with every weapon, so that's a very safe choice.

PICTO STATS
Health and Defense are absolutely necessary, you want as much of both as you can get. Crit is nice to have, but Speed is almost useless.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
You're looking for weapons that provide effects while you are defending.

• Level 4+ Duenum: an excellent AP battery for the team, especially when you parry
  
• Level 10+ Melarum: great if you don't have an ally who applies Shell and want to save some Lumina points. The level 20 effect is pretty useful to transition into doing damage
  
• Level 10+ Chalium: increases your survivability immensely, while level 20 massively boosts your potential damage output. Your best weapon for a counter-heavy playstyle
  
• Level 20+ Lithum: excellent for any build, high damage, very flexible, devastating with Payback

LUMINAS
Your first priority is anything that provides Shell. Your second is anything that improves dodges, parries, and counters. Your third is damage %. Increasing your starting AP is always very good, but AP generation is not that important.

• Game changers: First Strike, Survivor, Auto Shell, SOS Shell, Base Shield, Anti-Stun and Cheater
  
• If you can't dodge or parry: Energising Pain
  
• For AP generation: Energising Start 1, 2 and Energising Turn
  
• For improved survivability: Survivor and Base Shield
  
• If you have a healer, take: Healing Share
  
• If you do not have a healer, take: Healing Parry, Healing Counter and Effective Healing (you could take them anyway, but it's a little excessive)
  
• For additional buffs: Powerful on Shell, Greater Shell and Greater Powerful
  
• For improving damage: anything that improves counters and damage %

HOW IT PLAYS
Most of your damage comes from Counters and Fleuret Fury. Open with Egide, then use Mezzo Forte to stay in Defensive Stance. If you have an opportunity to get into Virtuose Stance and don't feel too worried about damage taken, use Swift Stride. Bounce between Fleuret Fury for damage and Mezzo Forte to build back AP, allowing you to stay in Virtuose Stance. Use Egide, Revenge or Sword Ballet to get back into Defensive Stance if you are worried. Revenge deals high damage if enemies spent multiple turns attacking you. If you took Payback instead, use it if you've successfully lowered its cost a bunch.

Character's name: Maelle


SKILLS

• Spark: low damage, applies Burn
  
  • Eventually replace with Pyrolyse once you've got enough AP generation, deals very high damage and applies a ton of Burn
• Rain of Fire: high damage, applies Burn
  
• Combustion: very high damage on 10 stacks, ideally used in Virtuose Stance
  
• Swift Stride: get into Virtuose Stance
  
• Revenge: use only for breaking
  
  • Replace with Fleuret Fury for the physical damage, use only for breaking
    
  • Or replace with Payback for less reliable break but massive physical damage, use whenever you've successfully lowered its cost a lot
• Mezzo Forte: handy for generating AP and staying in Defensive Stance

ATTRIBUTES
Might and whatever scales with your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
Crit and Speed. You can sacrifice some of both for Defense and Health if you want to make more use of Defensive Stance.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
You're looking for anything that helps with AP management or Burn application/damage.

• Level 4+ Brulerum: best for applying burn with Free-Aim; use your first turn to Free-Aim all your AP away to apply Burn, then use either an item or a base attack to get AP back. You can also keep 3 AP to immediately use Spark or Swift Stride, then Mezzo Forte on your next turn
  
• Level 10+ Medalum: best for applying Burn with skills
  
• Level 10+ Chantenum: most flexible, overall excellent
  
• Level 20+ Facesum: a solid alternative for applying Burn with skills

LUMINAS
Prioritise Luminas related to Burn and AP generation. Damage % comes after that. Anything else is for leftover points. If you use a Free-Aim build, prioritise its related Luminas over damage %, but not over Burn and AP generation.

• Game changers: First Strike, Critical Burn, Double Burn, Beneficial Contamination, Energising Turn, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• AP generation: Energising Turn 1, 2, 3, Beneficial Contamination, Energising Burn
  
• Burn related Luminas: Burn Affinity, Critical Burn, Double Burn, Energising Burn and Longer Burn. Breaking Burn is neat but not important.
  
• To improve damage: anything that improves critical hit % and damage %
  
• For a Free-Aim build with the weapon Brulerum: Combo Attack 1 (2 and 3 as well if you want), Energising Attack 1, Augmented Aim, Burning Shots, Energising Shots, Marking Shots, Rewarding Mark, Burning Mark, Double Mark, Accelerating Shots and Powerful Shots
  
• For survivability: Survivor, Auto Shell, SOS Shell, Base Shield and Solidifying. If you do not use healing much, consider Confident and its damage counter-part Confident Fighter
  
• If you self-apply buffs in any way, take the improvements that correspond: Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Greater Shell, Longer Powerful, Longer Rush and Longer Shell

HOW IT PLAYS
Open with either Spark or Rain of Fire, then keep alternating between them. Use Mezzo Forte to replenish your AP, preferably in Defensive Stance. Use Combustion (ideally in Virtuose Stance) on 10+ stacks of Burn for a damage spike. Use Revenge/Fleuret Fury only for breaking. If you use Payback, use it whenever you've reduced its cost enough that you think it's worth it, especially if the enemy is about to break.

Character's name: Maelle


SKILLS

• Swift Stride: get back into Virtuose Stance if you get knocked out of it for whatever reason
  
• Fleuret Fury: bread and butter, use it to deal solid damage and stay in Virtuose
  
• Mezzo Forte (replace with Last Chance for a low health build): build back AP and stay in Virtuose
  
• Percee: cheap, high damage, only use as finisher or if you really need damage now and can't use Fleuret Fury or Sword Ballet. Eventually, you will remove this from your rotation, but it is excellent for most of the game.
  
• Sword Ballet: extreme damage output, will knock you out of Virtuose
  
• CHOOSE ONE (eventually a second one to replace Percee)
  
  • Spark: so that you can apply Burn yourself
    
  • Fencer's Flurry: decent aoe damage, Defenseless is good utility
    
  • Breaking Rules: very useful for getting rid of shields because it lets you generate back the AP you spend. The potential second turn is not especially important

ATTRIBUTES
Might and whatever scales with your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
Crit and Speed. Try to have both on all 3 Picto slots. You want to eventually reach 75% or 100% crit rate (you only need 50% if using Critical Moment).

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Medalum is your best choice because it skips the necessary setup to get into Virtuose Stance. That said, any weapon works just fine, you'll just have to spend a turn using Swift Stride or Last Chance. Use your favourite one.

LUMINAS
Prioritise damage % and starting AP. AP generation is not too much of a concern thanks to Mezzo Forte/Last Chance.

• Game changers: First Strike, Energising Turn, Anti-Stun, Cheater, Energy Master
  
• For AP generation: Energising Start 1, 2 and Energising Turn
  
• For improving damage: anything that increases critical hit % and damage %
  
• Low health effects, highly recommended: At Death's Door, Critical Moment, SOS Powerful, SOS Rush, Solidifying and Shortcut
  
• For improving self-applied buffs: Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Longer Powerful and Longer Rush
  
• This build pairs very well with Free-Aim Luminas: Augmented Aim, Marking Shots, Burning Shots, Accelerating Shots, Powerful Shots, Energising Shots, Sniper. The Beneficial Contamination, Burning Mark and Energy Master Luminas are very useful here if you can afford them
  
• If you have an ally to set up Mark, or if you set it up yourself through Free-Aim shots, take: Rewarding Mark, Powerful Mark and Rush on Powerful

HOW IT PLAYS
If you are not in Virtuose Stance, get into it. Then alternate Fleuret Fury and Mezzo Forte. Use Sword Ballet for a big damage spike. Use Percee if you need damage and can't use anything else. Breaking Rules if opponent has 3+ shields. If you have paired this build with Free-Aim Luminas, shoot a few times to trigger your buffs.

NOTE
This character is a natural fit for a low HP build. All you need to do is grab all the Luminas related to being low on health and use Last Chance to put yourself on 1 HP. After that, anything you do in Virtuose Stance will hit like a freight train. If you have two turns in a row, there is a trick for getting a third one by using Last Chance on your second turn to trigger the Shortcut Lumina.

Character's name: Sciel


SKILLS

• CHOOSE ONE
  
  • All Set: apply all 3 stat buffs to everyone, very useful and straightforward
    
  • Rush: can apply all 3 stat buffs with the right Luminas. Lower AP cost than All Set but requires more Lumina points
• Fortune's Fury: double an ally's damage for 1 turn. Not terribly useful until you hit the end-game, but becomes incredible as your enemies get increasingly powerful
  
• Intervention: give an ally a turn immediately and ensures they can do something, always amazing
  
• Grim Harvest: heal the team, which gives AP and applies buffs with the right Luminas
  
  • FOR LOW HEALTH BUILDS: replace with Our Sacrifice to set your allies to 1 HP. Useful for saving Lumina points on your team. You do not need to apply Foretell stacks first, this is not a damage build
• Plentiful Harvest: excellent AP battery, very useful early on when you don't have too many Luminas that generate AP
  
• Bad Omen: to apply Foretell stacks for Grim Harvest and Plentiful Harvest. Just one application is enough, you don't need a ton of stacks

ATTRIBUTES
Vitality, Defense and Agility.

PICTO STATS
Health and Defense. Speed is good too.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Look for anything that provides survivability or group-wide utility.

• Level 4+ Rangeson: more healing
  
• Level 4+ Ramasson: less self-healing, but higher group healing
  
• Level 20+ Litheson: less healing but incredible utility

LUMINAS
Prioritise starting AP and buff improvements. On heal-effects are great if you use Grim Harvest (they DO NOT work if anything prevents healing, and they do not trigger from non-skill effects).

• Game changers: First Strike, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For generating AP: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4, Energising Turn, Energising Powerful, Energising Rush and Energising Shell
  
• If you use Rush, take: Shell on Rush and Powerful on Shell
  
• To improve your buffs: Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Greater Shell, Longer Powerful, Longer Rush and Longer Shell
  
• To improve Grim Harvest: Energising Heal, Accelerating Heal, Powerful Heal and Protecting Heal. Will not work on anyone that has Confident, Confident Fighter or Inverted Affinity

HOW IT PLAYS
Open with Rush or All Set. Use Bad Omen to set up a few stacks of Foretell, then use basic attacks until it makes sense to use a skill. You want to save up AP until it's time to spend it. Don't use your Harvest skills if you do not have Foretell applied. Use Fortune's Fury on your primary damage dealer for a damage spike.

Character's name: Sciel


SKILLS

• Bad Omen: sets up Foretell for both single- and multi-target situations. With Rangeson, self-heals a minimum of 20% HP and a max of 60%
  
• Firing Shadow (replace with Dark Wave once you've got enough AP): your aoe damage, only use if Foretell has been applied
  
• Phantom Blade: your big single-target damage for most of the game, breaks. Only use if Foretell has been applied
  
• Spectral Sweep: your single-target ability for applying Foretell during Twilight. With Rangeson, self-heals between 30% and 60% HP. The higher your crit, the better it does. Mostly for fighting bosses
  
• Twilight Dance: your end-game single-target damage, hits extremely hard. Only use if Foretell has been applied. Mostly for fighting bosses
  
• CHOOSE ONE
  
  • Grim Harvest: healing for the team. Minimum of 30%, jumps to 50% after just one use of Bad Omen
    
  • Keep Firing Shadow: for cheap aoe damage

ATTRIBUTES
Defense, Agility and Luck for Rangeson.
Vitality, Defense and Luck for Ramasson.
Might and whatever matches any other weapon you choose.

PICTO STATS
Speed is your most important stat, but you want a mixture of everything. 100% crit chance is ideal, but not necessary.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
The ability to take hits and survive is dependent on two specific weapons. If you don't care about being tanky, take whatever you please.

• Level 4+ Rangeson: great self-heal
  
• Level 20+ Ramasson: less self-heal, but more group heal and a lot more damage

LUMINAS
You want starting AP, low-health Luminas and damage %. Prioritise buff improvements if and when you get them. DO NOT take anything that prevents healing, it will block your weapon effects.

• Game changers: First Strike, SOS Powerful, SOS Rush, SOS Shell, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For generating AP: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4 and Energising Turn
  
• For improving damage: anything that improves critical hit % and damage %
  
• Low health effects: Critical Moment, SOS Powerful, SOS Rush, SOS Shell and Solidifying. The At Death's Door Lumina requirement is too low to be useful here
  
• For improving buffs you apply: Greater Power, Greater Rush and Greater Shell
  
• For improved survivability: Survivor, Auto Shell, Base Shield and Effective Heal
  
• If you use Grim Harvest, take: Energising Heal, Accelerating Heal, Protecting Heal, Powerful Heal, Longer Powerful, Longer Rush and Longer Shell. They get blocked by anything that prevents healing

HOW IT PLAYS
Rely on your weapon effect for self-healing. Open with Bad Omen to apply Foretell, then use Firing Shadow/Dark Wave for multi-target damage, Phantom Blade for single-target, or Grim Harvest for emergency healing. Rinse and repeat. Use Spectral Sweep during Twilight to apply a ton of Foretell on a single target. Twilight Dance is your big single-target nuke, best used in Twilight on 10+ stacks of Foretell.

Character's name: Sciel


SKILLS

• Bad Omen: applies Foretell stacks on everybody
  
• Firing Shadow (replace with Dark Wave once you've got enough AP): huge aoe damage, only use if Foretell has been applied
  
• Delaying Slash (replace with Twilight Dance once you've got enough AP): eventually absurd single-target damage output, only use if Foretell has been applied
  
• Phantom Blade (optionally replace with Final Path): for breaking
  
• Fortune's Fury: double your own damage, or that of an ally. Only really useful towards the end of the game, but still situationally good earlier
  
  • Can be replaced with Marking Card if you want to apply and trigger Mark without relying on an ally
• Intervention: lets an ally play immediately and guarantees they'll be able to use their skills, very useful for setting up combos or for turning a bad situation around
  
  • Can be replaced with Marking Card if you want to apply and trigger Mark without relying on an ally
    
  • You can also keep Firing Shadow for cheap damage, to make managing AP a little easier
    
  • FOR LOW HEALTH BUILDS: replace with Our Sacrifice to deal a ton of aoe damage and put your allies on 1 health; use after applying Foretell

ATTRIBUTES
Might and whatever scales with your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
Crit and Speed only. Speed is your priority, but you want to eventually get 100% crit chance.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Use what you like, but the weapons below are the best for dealing damage.

• Level 4+ Chation: your best weapon for this build. It makes you very fragile, but maximising Foretell stacks lets you dish out immense damage very quickly
  
• Level 10+ Guleson: a safer alternative. The damage is lower but still very respectable
  
• Level 20+ Martenon: your second-best option, slightly lower damage but much safer

LUMINAS
Anything that lets you survive more than one hit is highly recommended, as are low-health effects. Other than that, prioritise starting AP and damage %.

• Game changers: First Strike, Survivor, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For generating AP: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4 and Energising Turn
  
• For improving damage: anything that increases critical hit % and damage %. Take Confident Fighter and Inverted Affinity; you don't need healing, it's kill or be killed
  
• Low health effects: all of them, although you don't really need SOS Shell
  
• To improve survivability: Survivor, Confident and Base Shield. In Media Res is not worth it in my opinion, but your mileage may vary
  
• To improve self-applied buffs: Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Longer Powerful and Longer Rush
  
• To maximise benefits from Mark: Rewarding Mark, Powerful Mark, Rush on Powerful, Burning Mark, Critical Burn and Burn Affinity

HOW IT PLAYS
Turn 1: Bad Omen (Marking Card for single target if you've taken it). Turn 2: Firing Shadow/Dark Wave for multi-target, or Delaying Slash/Twilight Dance for single target. Rinse and repeat. Use the other skills if there is reason to. Only use Our Sacrifice after applying Foretell if you're equipping it.

Character's name: Verso


SKILLS

• Follow-up: your main source of damage at Rank S. Use after 10 Free-Aim shots or at 2 AP. Try to use it on a Marked enemy for that sweet 50% damage buff
  
• Phantom Stars: for breaking and aoe damage, only use at Rank S
  
• Purification: for curing yourself of Status Effects while still dealing some damage
  
• Burden: can turn a really bad situation around through self-sacrifice
  
• Perfect Recovery: for curing Status Effects, the heal is a bonus
  
• CHOOSE ONE
  
  • Radiant Slash: cheap break option
    
  • Overload: for a low health build
    
  • Leadership: great AP battery for the team

ATTRIBUTES
Might and whatever matches your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
Crit and Speed. Prioritise Speed, and aim for either 75% or 100% crit chance (you only need 50% if using Critical Moment).

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Anything that improves Perfection/Rank gain is going to be most useful. Alternately, you can look for high value S Rank effects.

• Level 4+ Lanceram: solid weapon in general, great for base attacks. Grab all Attack Combo Luminas
  
• Level 4+ Dualiso: low damage but very powerful effect
  
• Level 10+ Corpeso: extremely good for base attacks. Grab Double Burn and all Attack Combo Luminas
  
• Level 20+ Nosaram: hit rank S in a single turn with Free-Aim

LUMINAS
Prioritise Free-Aim and AP generation, then base attacks and damage %.

• Game changers: First Strike, Beneficial Contamination, Cheater, Energising Shots and Energy Master
  
• For AP generation: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4, Rewarding Mark, Energising Attack 1, Beneficial Contamination, Energising Rush and Energising Turn
  
• For Free-Aim: Augmented Aim, Marking Shots, Burning Shots, Powerful Shots, Accelerating Shots, Rush on Powerful and Energising Shots
  
• For base attack damage: Versatile, Augmented Attack and Combo Attack 1. Combo Attack 2 and 3 if you want them
  
• For base attack effects: Empowering Attack, Rush on Powerful, Exposing Attack, Greater Defenseless and Energising Attack 1. Energising Attack 2 is overkill in most scenarios
  
• For improving damage: anything that improves critical hit % and damage %
  
• For improving your buffs: Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Longer Powerful and Longer Rush
  
• If you use Overload, take all low-health Luminas
  
• Burning Mark and Double Mark are good if you've somehow got the points to spare

HOW IT PLAYS
If you are not Rank S, Free-Aim all you AP away and do a normal attack to get all your AP back and apply Defenseless. If you are Rank S, you have a few options. Free-Aim 10 times or until you have 2 AP left, then use Follow-up. Use Phantom Stars for aoe damage or to break enemies. Use your support Skills as needed. Use normal attacks to build AP back.

Character's name: Verso


SKILLS

• Overload: drop to 1 HP to trigger all your Luminas, reach Rank A, and refill your AP
  
• Berserk Slash: your bread and butter single target damage at low health
  
• Phantom Stars: your go-to multi-target damage, also breaks, preferably use at Rank S
  
• Assault Zero (replace with Strike Storm): for building up Rank and dealing damage if you do not want to reduce your health
  
• Defiant Strike: reduces current health by 30%, good if you don't want to commit to Overload. Deals good single target damage and applies Mark
  
  • you can replace this with anything you like
• Purification: in case you get afflicted with a Status Effect
  
  • you can replace this with anything you like

ATTRIBUTES
Might and whatever matches your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
All-in on Speed and Crit. You need 50% crit rate (or 100% to save a few Lumina points) and you want to be extremely fast to get multiple turns before your opponents. Prioritise Speed if you must choose.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Anything that does not limit your damage gains from rank is good.

• Level 4+ Gaulteram: mitigates rank loss
  
• Level 10+ Blodam: tailor-made for this build, hit rank S at 1 HP (use Overload, Auto-Death/Survivor Lumina combo or Sciel's skill Our Sacrifice)
  
• Level 20+ Cultam: functionally prevents you from losing rank
  
• Level 20+ Gesam: good all around weapon, makes all your damage physical. There's a giga spoiler Lumina that's quite good for that damage type (you'll know it when you get it)

LUMINAS
In order of priority: starting AP up to 6, low-health effects, starting AP up to 9, damage %, buff improvements.

• Game changers: First Strike, At Death's Door, Critical Moment, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For AP generation: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4 and Energising Turn
  
• Low health effects: At Death's Door, Critical Moment, SOS Powerful, SOS Rush and Solidifying. Consider also In Media Res and Shortcut
  
• For improving damage: anything that improves critical hit % and damage %. Be sure to take Confident Fighter and Inverted Affinity since you do not want any healing
  
• For improving self-applied buffs: Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Longer Powerful and Longer Rush
  
• If you or party member often applies Mark, take Rewarding Mark, it's very cost-effective

HOW IT PLAYS
Use Overload to buff yourself or use Assault Zero/Strike Storm to build up rank. Use Defiant Strike if you want to lower your health without going all-in with Overload. Use Berserk Slash at low health for massive single target damage. Use Phantom Stars for massive multi-target damage and for breaking. Use Purification if you've got a Status Effect on you. Use an item or an ally's skill to build back AP.

Character's name: Monoco

This is a unique character in that you have to defeat specific enemies in order to unlock their associated skills. This build uses easily found skills.


SKILLS

• CHOOSE TWO
  
  • Chalier Combo: expensive but excellent single target damage
    
  • Chevaliere Ice: applies Slow on all enemies and deals solid damage
    
  • Clair Enfeeble: applies Powerless to all enemies
    
  • Contortionniste Blast: can generate AP and apply buffs for the team with the right Luminas
    
  • Moisonneuse Vendange: good single target damage, breaks
• CHOOSE ONE
  
  • Sakapatate Explosion: solid damage, especially with high crit rate
    
  • Troubadour Trumpet: good way to apply buffs to allies
    
  • Pelerin Heal: can generate AP and apply buffs for the team with the right Luminas
    
  • Demineur Thunder: high single target break damage
• CHOOSE ONE
  
  • Echassier Stabs: applies Mark on one enemy
    
  • Chapelier Slash: applies Mark on all enemies and deals solid damage
    
  • Ramasseur Bonk: high single target break damage
• CHOOSE ONE
  
  • Hexga Crush: applies Defenseless on a single enemy, excellent for killing bosses
    
  • Stalact Punches: high single target break damage
• CHOOSE ONE
  
  • Portier Crash: good aoe damage and breaks all enemies
    
  • Glaise Earthquakes: good aoe damage and yet another good way to apply buffs to allies

ATTRIBUTES
Might and whatever matches your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
Not too important, prioritise Pictos with expensive Luminas. Health and Defense are best for supporting, Crit and Speed for dealing damage.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Whichever one you like! This character has a great selection of weapons, each with their own utility and subtly different playstyle. Pick the one that you enjoy the most.

LUMINAS
AP generation is your first priority, followed by improving the effects of your skills. Damage % can be taken at your discretion, but it's not the main goal of this build.

• Game changers: First Strike, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For AP generation: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4, Energising Turn and Beneficial Contamination. If you use skills that heal or apply buffs, you can also take Energising Heal, Energising Powerful, Energising Rush and Energising Shell.
  
• If you use Chevaliere Ice, take: Greater Slow
  
• If you use Hexga Crush, take: Greater Defenseless
  
• If you use Clair Enfeeble, take: Greater Powerless
  
• If you use Echassier Stabs or Chapelier Slash, take: Double Mark
  
• If you use Troubadour Trumpet, take: Rush on Powerful, Shell on Rush and Powerful on Shell (you only need any two of these if you only ever use Troubadour Trumpet in Caster Mask)
  
• If you use Glaise Earthquakes, take: Rush on Powerful and Shell on Rush
  
• If you use Contortionniste Blast or Pelerin Heal, take: Energising Heal, Powerful Heal, Protecting Heal and Accelerating Heal. They will be blocked by any effect that prevents healing
  
• If you apply buffs in any way, also take: Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Greater Shell, Longer Powerful, Longer Rush and Longer Shell
  
• If you have multiple break damage skills, take: Breaker, Breaking Burn, Breaking Slow, Break Specialist, and Critical Break
  
• If you have another party member who often applies Mark, take: Rewarding Mark, it's very cost-effective
  
• For improving damage: anything that increases critical hit % and damage %

HOW IT PLAYS
Use the skills that match your current Mask. That's it!

Character's name: Monoco

This is a unique character in that you have to defeat specific enemies in order to unlock their associated skills. This build uses hard to find skills. Use similar skills you've already unlocked until you find them.


SKILLS

• Sakapatate Fire: fantastic aoe damage, applies Burn, use only in Almighty Mask
  
• Dualist Storm: fantastic single target damage, breaks, use only in Almighty Mask
  
• Lampmaster Light: cheaper aoe damage, good for enemies resistant or immune to fire damage, use only in Almighty Mask
  
• Benisseur Mortar: use it to consume Mark and get back into Almighty Mask, it does not matter what Mask you are in when you use it
  
• Chapelier Slash: applies Mark on all enemies, it does not matter what Mask you are in when you use it
  
• Gault Fury: applies Mark on one enemy, it does not matter what Mask you are in when you use it
  
  • FOR LOW HEALTH BUILD: take Cultist Blood instead to drop to low HP

ATTRIBUTES
Might and whatever matches your chosen weapon.

PICTO STATS
Prioritise Crit up to 75% or 100% (you only need 50% if using Critical Moment). Then whatever you like. Speed is best, but there's nothing wrong with a mix of Health and Defense.

RECOMMENDED WEAPONS
Joyaro is the best choice because it starts you in Almighty Mask.

RECOMMENDED LUMINAS
Prioritise starting AP, then damage %, then the rest.

• Game changers: First Strike, Cheater and Energy Master
  
• For generating AP: Energising Start 1, 2, 3, 4, Energising Turn and Beneficial Contamination
  
• For increasing damage: anything that increases critical hit % and damage %
  
• Because you apply Mark: Rewarding Mark, Burning Mark, and Powerful Mark. Double Mark is good but not amazing. Rush On Powerful is great if you have Powerful Mark
  
• For Free-Aim utility: Marking Shots, Burning Shots, Energising Shots, Powerful Shots and Accelerating Shots
  
• To improve self-applied buffs: Greater Powerful, Greater Rush, Longer Powerful, and Longer Rush

HOW IT PLAYS
If you are in Almighty Mask, use Sakapatate Fire or Lampmaster Light for aoe, and Duallist Storm for single target. If not in Almighty Mask, apply Mark through Skills or Free-Aim, then use Benisseur Mortar to get back to Almighty.

• Upgrade your weapons to max
  
• Stack % damage Luminas
  
• Reach 100% crit chance
  
• Apply Greater Powerful
  
• Apply Greater Defenseless
  
• Apply Mark
  
• Lower your HP to 1 to trigger low health Luminas (using skills or combining Auto-Death and Survivor)
  
• Play twice (or thrice!) in a row (Cheater, Shortcut, and/or a ton of speed)
  
• Stack as many shields as possible to make use of Powerful Shield and Shield Affinity
  
• Have one or two teammates die to trigger on-death Luminas
  
• Break the enemy to trigger on-break Luminas
  
• Use Sciel's skill Fortune Fury
  
• Do all of the above at the same time!